Re-elect McInvale

In the race for state House District 36, voters have more than a choice between incumbent Sheri McInvale and challenger Scott Randolph. They also face the choice between rewarding effectiveness or blindly supporting partisan politics.

Voters should reject slavish partisanship and re-elect Ms. McInvale to a third term. She is clearly best-suited to represent this diverse district covering central Orange County, including Colonialtown, Delaney Park, Eatonville, and part of Winter Park, College Park and Azalea Park.

We recognize that it is an uphill battle for Ms. McInvale, who switched from the Democratic to Republican Party this year. Ironically, Mr. Randolph, an attorney and environmental lobbyist, himself recently switched parties. He returned to the Democrats after being registered as a member of the Green Party. As for Ms. McInvale, she promises to be every bit as independent as a Republican as she was when she was a Democrat.

When we endorsed her in 2004, she was a Democrat. We pointed out that Democrats don't have much say in the Republican-controlled state House and some spend their time shouting from the back bench but accomplishing little. Others work quietly with GOP lawmakers to make a difference on behalf of their constituents. Ms. McInvale was that kind of Democrat. She can be even more effective now that she is a Republican.

On the other hand, if Mr. Randolph is elected, he seems destined to be one of those loud back-benchers. He offers little more than the Democratic Party line against school and Medicaid reform and platitudes when it comes to tackling Florida's homeowners-insurance crisis.

Truth be told, Ms. McInvale isn't any more a staunch Republican as she was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. She has emerged as an effective leader because of her ability to build consensus. Democrats would be smart to count on her as one of a handful of moderates who can bridge the partisan divide in Tallahassee.

We haven't agreed with Ms. McInvale on every issue. Her support for Gov. Jeb Bush's intervention in the case of Terri Schiavo was troubling. But she also fought for a bill to allow more than $2 million in sales taxes collected at the Orange County Convention Center to stay in this community.

Tallahassee needs more leaders who think for themselves and work with both parties.

That's why the Sentinel endorses Sheri McInvale in the Nov. 7 election for state House District 36.